With Art Basel finishing up, and the Hello Kitty show coming to a close, I thought I’d show you what my piece ended up looking like. I called it “Hello Vishnu,” obviously.

Edit: I realize you guys don’t all know my sense of humor, but rest assured that this painting isn’t about the Hindu religion nor our Indian fans at all–just for the record. We love our fans in India and hope to see you on tour in the future.

loved it…..come to think of ur tour in india…….whenever any band or music artists come to india they come to the metro cities and forget the rock capital of india ‘shillong’. over the years our city has waited for lady gaga,britney spears and the other artists but only one to have come till now is the scorpions. plz linkin park if you do come to india plz come to shillong.

I’ve seen the poster of Goddess of Music Shri Sarasvati Devi in ur studio wall. So I’ve always wanted to know that how you & your band mates are influenced with south east culture & music(instruments)? If Yes, any specific subjects? Music, Religion, Food, Culture, Philosophy etc

I also read Brad’s interview. He also listens to some Indian music. I myself a Tabla player(5 Years training). I also took Indian classical training of vocals. I had seen you playing Harmonium.(blackout) Though it’s origin’s not from India but it’s having great influence in our music. As you know Ragas & Saptak can really have effects on body & nature. Great way to compose the harmony. Love.🙂

NONE OFFENDED
hey people offence is taken from people those who really making you offended…
this is just creative piece of art,,nothing else….
so please indian fans dont be offended…….MYSELF TOO AN INDIAN AND I AM ALSO HINDU…..

pushkarb on December 6, 2010 at 9:35 pm

Great Work. Flowers, candies, cupcakes are good. I think you missed Snickers.

Love it! Freakin’ brilliant. I adore the Hindu faith and have no trouble with this at all; to me it’s no different than Raptor Jesus. Anyway, the glory of this piece is the craziness going on in the background, IMO. The flipper-dragon is epic.

Keep it coming Mike!

-Ion

lis0406 on December 6, 2010 at 2:09 pm

OMG!! you`re a genius!!!
I LOVE YOUR ART WORK MIKE!!
KISSES FROM ARGENTINA

thats cool mike!🙂
yeah we really are waiting for yo to come here
being in the lpu and waiting for 7 years!!!!!
come soon!!!

markusstorm on December 6, 2010 at 6:11 am

I think it’s pathetic that some people takes this painting bad for the religion manner. Religion (in all its forms) is as ridicolous as the people who can’t accept a painting which doesn’t even contain any offense in it.

If i’d be religious i’d say: “Hey at least Mike’s Vishnu gives us a candy, instead of wars and death, or being the destroyer of the world -as any other God is”.

Fact is i don’t even think this is even close to represent a religion if not a concept.
I like it Mike, considering i don’t really like Hello Kitty this is pretty damn good lol.

P.S. I didn’t intend to offend anybody. As you can see i didn’t talk of “a God”, but of “religion” in general.

Huh, Mike, cool) Muscular, many-armed Buddha in the form of Kitty) now looks much better than the sketch) The only snakes I have not been fully understood. It’s tail, right? Meagher)) in only one was a snake instead of hair. Original)

Mike, You will have problems with India! You disrespected one of his deuses.Eu know you did not intend to offend the Hindu culture. I think it would be interesting to an apology. The fastest possible. Thank you!

AS AN INDIAN I TAKE OFFENSE.I respect you as an artistic and am very appreciative of ur version of modern art.But this is just TERRIBLE! Vishnu is one of our GODS,and to see GOD made a mockery of by using HEllo Kitty as a medium is INSULTING.I am very disappointed.I am the greatest fan of Linkin Park, but a true fan is one who speaks her heart.Even though we have freedom of speech n expression, we need 2 set up boundaries.I am extremely sorry 2 come across as rude, but as a devout follower of HINDUISM,I am pained 2 see this misuse of our culture.I unfortunately have 2 say that THIS piece shld NOT be part of the collection.

Linkin Park’s Greatest Fan
Tejaswi
Mumbai
India

dorito82 on December 5, 2010 at 11:15 pm

Hello Kitty was one of the things that ruled my childhood! I adore this peice!

hey mike…this is cool, but i’d suggest u remove it before u land urself into trouble with the indians esp the Hindu fundamentalist ..i am not kiddin…also, if u can, please remove my comment too, after u r done readin this…i wrote this only to caution u because i am a big fan of urs and i don’t want anyone to say anything against u..tht’s it….
🙂

I do not like much but considering that it is “hello kitty” I think the design and structure is quite good. I like the smiling cloud.🙂

bonnie77lp on December 5, 2010 at 8:24 pm

WOW MIKE, THIS IS SOME AWESOME ARTWORK, I LOVE ALL THINGS HELLO KITTY!
I HOPE THAT U AND THE OTHER GUYS LIKED THE TASMANIAN DEVIL TEDDIES I GAVE U GUYS AT THE BRISBANE MEET AND GREET.
I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS PLAY AGAIN AT SYDNEY THIS SATURDAY NIGHT😀

I love the way that you kept it undetailed, actually, to make it as close to Hello Kitty as possible. I think it’d look silly if it was more detailed.

Also, I definitely didn’t notice her crotch until people pointed it out, actually. I don’t think it’s a necessary detail, but, then again, I’m a little defensive about things like that that could possibly be taken sensually. There’s a time and a place, and I don’t think this was the place for it.

At the same time, you seem like the sort of chap who likes to push the envelope and make people uncomfortable so that they think. Fair enough.

LOL Hey hey hey now, the furry jokes are in my territory and why did I notice her crotch first too?!? That is so not cool. Whoa😄 Its messing with my mind. Ah but when you step back and look at the whole picture things are always become clearer. Theres two sides. My back has this weird energy warmth thing going on all the sudden lol wait should I be afraid? I cracked the Hello Kitty code in my mind and now my backs got warming abilities..ahaha

MIKE SHINODA IS TRYING TO PERSUADE THE KITTEH THAT SHE SHOULD DO HER DUTY AND…TO IMPRESS SANRIO…HELLO KITTY TAKES ON HER MULTI-ARMED FORM AND PURRS….AND SAYS…I HAVE BECOME HELLO KITTEH, THE DESTROYA OF HEARTS.

It’s pretty awesome to see cool things with Indian tints on MR. MIKE SHINODA’S BLOG. Mike, please tell me what would is it like setting up a show in a country outside the U.S.
Do sponsors organizing any such concert approach WBR or LP (OR It’s perfectly your choice :D) ??

nadiabs on December 5, 2010 at 9:34 am

I want one!!! so original…

10percentluck on December 5, 2010 at 9:31 am

wooohoo, so cute ^^
i dont like Hello Kitty, but this one is fun and amazing🙂

nice work, Mike🙂

fatimalp on December 5, 2010 at 9:29 am

Awesome, I love it!🙂 also I’ve seen the others work from this art show and I think your artwork was one of the best there!😀 Congrats, Mike!